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Minimum Wage Increase: Debunking Conservative Misinformation
Washington, DC - With members of the House of Representatives expected to debate and vote on a proposed increase to the minimum wage today, Media Matters for America addressed common examples of conservative misinformation perpetuated in the media surrounding the discussion of an increase.
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Posted by Mike Dixn
One small business owner's opinion
I won't go into particulars, but as a small business owner, I pay the people who work for me a little less than twice the current federal minimum wage. I honestly don't think I could afford to pay them less. Good workers WILL go elsewhere if they aren't paid enough to live on. Additionally, I believe that people do the work they're paid for. If they aren't paid a decent wage - and any place paying minimum is only doing so because it is against the law to pay them any less - they will not do decent work. Raising minimum wage will raise productivity along with the buying power of those workers. Also, since I suspect that many minimum wage jobs are in corporate retail, higher wages keep more money in local economies, many badly in need of reinvigoration, rather than being smuggled away to tax-sheltered CEO salaries.
Posted Wednesday January 10, 2007 3:30:09 PM EST / Flag this comment
Posted by oscar the grouch in reply to Mike Dixn
Mike, just for clarification and
maybe a little education for me. You pay roughly 2x minimum wage (I'm assuming you are talking entry level here). Is it because of the skills your employees brought to the job or is it because the wage automatically bestowed upon them the skills that make them valuable to your company? Or is it because of market conditions? And as they gain more skills, are you rewarding them accordingly?
Posted Wednesday January 10, 2007 9:20:13 PM EST / Flag this comment
Posted by oscar the grouch
$7.25/hour will have
minimal impact on the economy. It is interesting to note from above, however, that despite the growing economy in Oregon (the example used), the unemployment rate is considerably above the national average. Is this due to the higher than normal minimum wage or? I also read recently that the economic growth is Oregon is in higher paying jobs and minimum wage jobs are growing at a slower rate than the state economy as a whole. $7.25/hr is a fair starting wage. However, I still believe the person earning that wage has personal responsibility in gaining skills that will advance that person up the income scale, rather than waiting for the government to decree "You deserve a higher wage" even though your skills are not expanding. I also believe it is an issue best left to the States, due to the differences in COL across the country. If the people of a particular state feel the minimum should be set at some $ figure, let them do it as they have done in a lot of the states.
Posted Wednesday January 10, 2007 9:35:08 PM EST / Flag this comment